The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-03


He is not coming" whispered the
Doctor. t'i
perhaps not" 1 answered, but l
feel IN duty bound 10 watch"
''Verg well, yawned the Doctor, Il
am with you, but we did notEo to work
in the right way"
What would have been your plan %
l asked.
"Whv, simply this. We should have
concealed ourselves in the corridor and
watched his door. When he came out
we could have followed him at little
distance. AS it is, he may visit another
room, and in that event our time will be
lost"
ut is all very we'll to suggest that
now" 1 answered, but there are OBJ
iections to your plan, The guests who
found us prowliDg about the corridor
would demand an explanation, and we
would have found it necessary TO take
too many into our secret. Now, it
seems reasonable to suppose that the
force of habit wilt draw the Judge to the
same place. His room is next to the
one in which the murder occurred, and
If my theory is correct your friend was
making for that room last night. Find
ing it securely fastened-you know it
has been nailed up since tie inquest
he tried the next door, which was mine.
If he walks at all tonight l believe he
win go over the same track"
THERE'S something il that" said my
companion; 'but l hope that he will
not come. Think of the effect upon'bis
mind if our suspicious should turn out
to be the truth"
Hush" whispered.
The door creaked little, and white
robed figure gently glided in.
1t is the Judge" said the Doctor,
under his breath.
And It was the Judge. 1t was plainly
evident even in the moonlight that he
was asleep, but his features were witch
ing convulsiVely. In his right hand he
carried the dagger.
Swiftly, and yet without making the
slightest noise, the sleep-walker ap-
preached the bed, and, stretching forth
one hand, commenced cautiously feel
ing. When his hand rested upon the
sham figure he delivered the same rapid
thrust with the dagger that | bad wit
messed the night before, and fed from
the room.
Dr.. Hinton was cool man when
there was work to do. He signaled to
lowing him into his room.
Judge Pike closed mis- door and faced
us. For a moment thought that he
was awake, but l soon saw that he was
unconscious. He went to his trunk, and
lifting It's contents carefully, placed the
dagger at the bottom. Then he threw
himself into an arm chair.
II hate to do it. said Dr.. Hinton,
"but it must be done"
He advanced to the chair and shook
the sleeping man.
How dare you'll" he exclaimed. "What
does this mean? Why, gentlemen, this
is strange How is it that you are in
my room?"
He looked down at his costume, and
buried his face in his hands.
Have 1 been i'll? ?" be asked.
"My friend" said the Doctor, II am
about to bring great sorrow upon you
but Z know you are brave enough to
bear the truth. What I have to say
does not reflect upon your char, cter,
and it is necessary that you should
known it."
Speak" huskily commanded the
Judge.
May open your trunk q moment ?"
asked the Doctor.
Certainly" was the reply; make
yourself athome."
The Doctor drew from the bottom of
the trunk the dagger.
How did that get there?' was the
Judges stern question. II have no
weapons. 1 never saw that before"
The Doctor held the dagger up. On its
handle was engraved the name OF John
Luff.
This calls for an explanation, sir, "
said Judge Pike, witti ali angry look.
"Ten him. said the Doctor, turning
to me. c>a ea-!y.s
1t was the hardestts of my life, but
Il some fashion | NJ ged to tell the
story. In the middle it the Doctor
came to my rescue, and, with his arm
sroand his friend s neck, he told HIM all
the events of the night. r.al
The Judges face assumed CHASTITY
pallor, and several times l expected to
see him faint. He took the dagger in
his hand and looked at the name.
Il understand it all, y he groaned:
He threw the dagger on the floor.
Gentlemen" said he, sadly, leave
me nov. Let Tie sleep, if l can. In the
morning my nerves will be stronger.
and we Will then consult together to see
how to do justice to Luff without doing
injustice to me. The whole truth must
come out"
We left the room and returned to
mine. r-t
What will be the end OF it," 1 asked
the Doctor.
Impossible to say" he replied. " Pike
is a religious man. He will not commit
suicide or do anything rash.
We we're at the breakfast table when
the landlord rushed in ard said to the
DGstor: n 80 u.
dying" nit1
We hurried to the Judges room, but
it was too late. The wretehed man was
dead. r,4 -1t--
To our great joy it was not a case OF
suicide. r. Hinton. made q thorough
Investigation, and satisfied himself, that
his friend had died OF heart disease.
Perhaps it was better SO. When the
Doctor and [ made our statement to
the prosecuting attorneys no ore ques-
toned it. There was great surprise, but
thu indictment was readily '.n0Ilied, as
the miners call it, and Luff- was set at
liberty. 10.
: at was a close shave" ne said, when
he set up the drinks that night, and
this climate doesn't sui. my health.
l am gSing to skip" apiau r.,.s
Silver.on was not sorry to- see him go.